Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“You’re one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Liam. Talk to the coach and find out why you’re not playing.”
He nods and swallows hard. I know what I say are only words. Words I’m sure he’s heard a hundred times over. Deep down, he knows he’s the best and is frustrated with the entire situation. As much as I want him to come to school with me, if he does so his chances for the NFL dwindle greatly. No one from our school ever gets drafted and Liam should be the number one pick in three or four years. That’s what he’s strived for his entire life.
“I don’t know, babe.”
“What don’t you know? They recruited you. They wanted you to play. Yes, it sucks that Mason pulled a fast one, but it’s not like you guys were a package deal.”
“Yeah, I guess,” he says. “It’s just not what I thought it would be. I don’t know, high school doesn’t really prepare you to be hundreds of miles away from the one you love, does it?”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t. But I’m here, you know that, and I’ll be coming down soon.” Yes, he invited me, but it’s up to me to find the ticket. I don’t know how much one even costs, but I’m going to find out soon so I can save. Being with him, there for him, those are the only things that matter to me.
I pull my comforter over us and snuggle into his hold. I want this forever, this feeling he gives me. When Liam looks at me, I can see the love he has for me in his eyes, and I can feel it in the way he holds me. Like now, his arm is tight across my back, holding me securely to his chest. It’s almost as if he thinks I’m going to disappear on him.
“Liam?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I love you more than anything in this world.”
“I love you too, Jojo.”
chapter 4
. . .
Liam’s visit was short and very sweet. The only thing left unsaid between us was when I’d take the bus to Texas to visit him. He wants more than a weekend and wants it soon, but with football, the weekends are pretty shot because he’s either got a game or he’s traveling. The only time we’d be able to spend more than a couple of days together would be when football’s over. Even during the holidays, it’ll be a day or two since there are bowl games. And with my baby at the helm, leading the Longhorns this year, they’ll definitely be in a bowl game.
My dad and I load the car with all my college stuff. There is so much, and he’s mumbling about having to carry everything. My mom snickers and says it’s good for him to get some exercise. She calls him portly. I can’t imagine Liam ever having a beer gut or being called portly.
I wanted my parents to take Katelyn, but my dad said he would’ve had to rent a truck to get all our stuff there. I never asked her how she was getting to school and assumed Mason would drive her.
When Liam was here, we didn’t talk about Mason other than alluding to how alone Liam feels at school because of what he did. I don’t care how long it takes, I’m never going to get over what Mason did. But because Katelyn’s my ride or die, I’m going to fake it when things come to Mason. I can’t stand the divide, and he’s going to be around a lot.
The drive to campus takes about forty-five minutes. School is technically out of town, but they use the Beaumont name. I don’t get it, nor does it truly matter. It’s enough of a drive that my parents won’t randomly show up at my dorm room.
“What’s all this?” Dad asks when he pulls up to the building where I’m going to live.
“The football team, upperclassmen, and a couple other clubs help move the freshmen into the dorms today and tomorrow.”
“And you didn’t say anything? Here I am working myself up to climb three flights of stairs with all your stuff. Geesh, kid.”
I shrug, knowing he can’t see me unless he looks over his shoulder and he’s too busy trying not to hit the kids running in front of his car. “Escaped my mind.” It hadn’t. I just thought it was funny how my mom mocked him about his bitching.
As soon as I get out of the backseat, Mason’s there pulling me into his arms. I let him even though I secretly want to knee him in the balls.
“Damn, I didn’t realize how much I missed you until just now,” he says.
He’d miss me more if he’d gone to Texas with Liam.
“Ugh, put me down, you big lug.” He does, but doesn’t let go of me despite me trying to wiggle away. The last thing I want is for Liam to show up on campus one day and someone say, “Uh, I saw your chick with some dude,” in that annoying Beavis voice.